KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian media are calling for a ceasefire to end the violence against civilians and journalists in Gaza, says a coalition of media associations, clubs and unions under Save Press 4 Gaza (SP4G).
SP4G spokesman Sairien Nafis said it is firm in advocating for the safety of journalists, upholding the principles of press freedom and fostering a global media landscape that values truth and justice.
“The world is watching. History will remember our collective response during these critical times as the ongoing violence has killed 42 journalists. Those who survived have lost their families.
“The coalition is taking the same stand with Palestinian Journalists Syndicate to call for global journalists to condemn the targeting of their colleagues.
“We stand united in support of their brave efforts to report amid the chaos and destruction in Gaza as their work is instrumental in bringing the harsh realities of the conflict to the forefront of public awareness, making them an invaluable asset to the global media landscape,” he told reporters yesterday at Dataran Merdeka where SP4G held a peaceful gathering.
The event was attended by media personnel, who held posters calling for the protection of press workers covering the conflict.
Among those present were representatives of the National Union of Journalist Peninsular Malaysia, Gerakan Media Merdeka, Crime Journalists Association, Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia , Gabungan Kelab Media Malaysia, Kelab Wartawan KL and Selangor and Kelab Media Prima.
Sairien said the targeting of journalists had been a disturbing trend, as evident in the Reporters Without Borders investigation into the Oct 13 Israeli strikes in south Lebanon where Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah lost his life in the attacks while six other journalists were injured.
“Such incidents further highlight the urgent need for international action to protect journalists operating in conflict zones,” he said.
The siege by Israel had resulted in more than 11,000 Palestinian casualties, with at least 42 journalists among the tragic losses, marking the deadliest conflict for media professionals since 1992, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
CPJ reported that journalists have faced not only the inherent risks of reporting but also the dire conditions of power outages, food and water shortages, and a collapsing medical system.
Sairien said that the Western media should be held accountable for any dehumanising rhetoric that may contribute to justifying the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.
“Western newsrooms, which benefit significantly from the work of Gazan journalists, must take immediate steps to ensure their protection and condemn any action that jeopardise their safety.
“The international media has a responsibility to uphold journalistic integrity, ensuring fair and accurate coverage of the ongoing conflict,” he said.
